07 March 2012

pheasant program update

All the state stands to lose is revenue
~ revenue that, ironically, pays for the program

The DEEP has not been successful in convincing
the Governor's Office to reverse their decision to end the pheasant program. The
only thing that can change this now is political pressure applied by
sportsmen and others affected by the decision.

Here are some "official" DEEP Bureau of Natural Resources figures to ponder.

Amount of Revenue (CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE) expected to be lost if program is
eliminated:
 Sale of pheasant stamps = $139,000
 License Sales to pheasant hunters = $27,000** Total Revenue lost = $166,000

**Note that this figure was determined by breaking down the license fees
among all buyers, to those who ONLY purchased a basic hunting and pheasant
stamps (no deer, turkey, etc.), and assumes they would not continue to
purchase a hunting license if the program was eliminated. We know that more
revenue would be lost due to anger among the sportsmen, especially after
enduring a 40% increase in license fees and a 100% increase in pheasant
stamp fees.

Since 1983, when sportsmen began contributing pheasant tag fees to provide
additional program support, we have used the entire amount of revenue
generated in the previous year (as in the $224,000 above) to establish our
budget for the program in the following year. There is an expectation among
sportsmen that they are paying for the next year's program.

Regardless of the figures used, there will not be any $ savings by
eliminating the $160,000 called for in the Governor's proposed budget. The State
simply loses revenue.